I... Am so SO sorry for this long wait! I have been busy with life as any normal person would, and- if any of you had took a peek at my profile- I have also been quite busy with my original stories. But! Now, I have some time on my hands, and I have completed a couple of stories, so that is one thing off my back. ... For now.
That being said! I have kept you all waiting long enough. Say hello! To a new year (though by now it may be the very next day for you people), and a new chapter~
Time had passed since Nikola's birthday. In that time, the baby steadily learned how to say some more words, those being 'mama' and 'papa', and even names of some dishes. Each time she spoke, not only her parents or great-grandparents, but even some regulars and workers of Nekoya would squeal for her, especially the Saturday customers. Though as a baby she could not speak perfectly, just the mere fact that she called the customers by their food alias was enough to make them burst in joy, though not as much as one certain dragon, who almost came close to bringing the baby to the other world, had Tomoe and Makoto not stopped her, as well as Daiki and Koyomi.
Speaking of Koyomi, rather than the end of the year as planned, unfortunately, Senzaemon implored she make her return to school to help with some rowdy chefs and handle some exams, exams in which she was responsible for. Thankfully, Nikola did not make much fuss like she did the last time the woman tried to leave, though Koyomi already felt quite lonely without the child with her.
It was now a quiet Saturday, as opposed to usual. Nikola, now at four years of age, was in the kitchen, closely watching her father and great-grandfather as they make preparations for the day. In the child's arms was a familiar lion doll, a toy sword in its mouth.
Makoto noticed his daughter staring and looked over to her, then to exactly where she was looking at. A small smile formed on his face as he asked, "Do you want to help with prep work today?"
Nikola's eyes widened and lit up at the question. "Can I?! Really?!"
"What? I was hoping she'd stay out here with me for a little longer... You're making mommy feel lonely," Tomoe told her daughter with a playful pout.
"I want to help mommy, too, but... I want to cook like daddy and grandpa! Everyone always looks happy when they eat their food; I want to do the same!" Nikola reasoned.
Hearing that made Makoto happy, as he placed a hand on his daughter's head. "Is that so, now? I feel happy hearing that," he said.
"I want you to be happy when I cook, too!"
Daiki let out a small laugh at the reason. "Well, there will come a day when the girl may want to inherit the restaurant herself. I don't see why not," he said.
Sad as Tomoe was to see her little girl grow up so fast, she also could not deny that statement. The child may be old and responsible enough to help out at the dining hall, but helping out around the kitchen? Standing by the fire as the food cooked, being near all those knives as they cut something, even checking on the boiling broths...
... Now that she thought about it, it is way dangerous for her four-year-old child to be working there!
"Get my child away from the kitchen at once!" she suddenly shouted, surprising the three chefs, as Makoto teaches Nikola how to wash the rice.
"T-Tomo?!"
Meanwhile in the other world, in one certain empire, there was a large castle. In one of the rooms of that castle, there were a little girl with white hair and blue eyes wearing a pink dress and an elderly man wearing some royal clothes.
"This is the entrance to a secret chamber," the man said to the girl.
"'A secret chamber'?"
"You must keep it a secret from everyone else. Wouldn't want to have less of it for myself."
Though confused with the older man's words, the child nodded in understanding. The man smiled softly at her response and gently took her hands in his. "I'm sure you'll like the chamber. You might even make a new- Well, I'm sure you will make a new friend there."
Those words confused the girl even more, as the man went to open the door with a jingle.
One sound of the jingle and the door opening caught the ears of many in Nekoya, as Tomoe turned to the door.
"Welcome to Nekoya," she greeted. "Ah, Wilhelm! Lovely to see you here."
"Hello, Tomoe. I hope I haven't come at a bad time," Wilhelm greeted back.
"For people on your side? Not at all." Tomoe took notice of a child by the man's side and knelt down to her eye level. "Why hello there. Are you a small friend of his?"
Shy at this stranger greeting her, the little girl hastily turned to Wilhelm in fright.
Tomoe did not mind this, as she looked up at the elder in royal garb. "For a child this young to be with you, could she be...?"
Wilhelm instantly caught on to her question and nodded. "That's right. This here is Adelheid, my granddaughter."
"I thought so! She looks around her age."
Adelheid grew confused at the exchange between this woman and her grandfather. Do they know each other? Then again, they were calling each other by names earlier...
"Hey, Adelheid-chan. I have a small friend I'd like you to meet. Nikola!"
Upon hearing her name get called, Nikola- who was still in the kitchen, helping her dad and great-granddad wash some rice- instantly left her post and rushed to the dining hall, her stuffed animal in hand. "Yes, mommy?" One look at Wilhelm, and a big smile was placed on her face. "Croquette-jiisan! Hello!"
"Hello there, Nikola. Cheery as ever, I see," Wilhelm said.
Nikola happily nodded in confirmation before taking notice of a child her age by Wilhelm's side. One look, and an even bigger smile spread on her face. "A new customer! And my age, too!"
Taken aback once more by this girl's sudden shout, Adelheid inched closer to her grandfather, who let out a small laugh.
"Don't worry, Adelheid," he assured her. "This is Nikola, the heiress of this secret chamber."
"Nikola...?" Adelheid repeated, before glancing at the girl.
"Nice to meet you, Ade-... Um, Adel-..." Nikola struggled hard to say the other girl's name. "Um... Is it okay if I just call you Adel-chan?"
Adelheid grew unsure with the question, as she turned to her grandfather for help. Upon being given a reassuring nod from him, the child of the other world shyly looked back at Nikola and answered, "S-Sure..."
The way she gave her response made Nikola's eyes sparkle, though not solely because she was making a new friend. It was also because...
"So cute... Are you a princess?!"
Though slightly taken aback by the question, Adelheid hesitantly nodded in response. "Y-yeah."
"Wow... This is the first time I'm meeting a real princess!"
Adelheid did not know how to react to those words. She had been in presence of other children her age, and though they often tried to find ways to warm up to her, there were none who instantly became friendly with her like this girl did, nor were there any who looked at her in pure joy like Nikola was doing.
"Nikola, why don't you play with Adelheid-chan while your father and great-grandfather make something for her and Wilhelm?" Tomoe suggested to her daughter.
"Sure! This way, Adel-chan!" Without waiting for a response from the princess, the restaurant heiress grabbed her by the hand and dragged her to a table, much to the otherworldly child's surprise.
As they left to a table, the adults silently smiled as they watched the two kids.
"Heheh. Looks like those two will get along just fine," Makoto said, watching as Nikola helped Adelheid get settled at a table with a sofa seat.
"I truly hope you don't mind I bring Adelheid here for today," Wilhelm said.
"Of course not. I've been wanting to meet her myself ever since you spoke about her birth," Tomoe assured.
"Yeah. Besides, it'd be good for Nikola to make some friends her age, even if they are from another world," Makoto added.
"Well, in any case, we know you aren't here just for company for the girl. The usual, I assume?" Daiki asked.
"You'd assume right. And something for Adelheid, too, if you can?" Wilhelm confirmed.
"Coming right up." To Makoto, Daiki then said, "I'll leave the kid's order to you. You worked in a cafe while you were in Totsuki, yeah? I'm not good at that sort of thing."
"Sure thing," he nodded.
"Why not two? I'm sure Nikola would like some, as well," Tomoe also requested.
"My thoughts exactly."
With Nikola and Adelheid, after the latter of the pair got situated at a table away from her grandfather, she kept her eyes on the former, who placed her doll on the table between them.
"What sort of games do you play in your world?" Nikola asked.
"'My world'?" Adelheid repeated, not really understanding that part of the question.
"Yeah! What do you play over there?"
While the young princess did not fully understand what she meant by 'her world', she did know that Nikola wants to know what she usually plays with children her age. Only...
"Um... I don't know..."
Nikola looked at her in shock at the response. "You don't know? How?"
"Well... No one has ever really played with me back home. All I do with other kids is talk and look at flowers."
"That's it? That's so different from what I've read in books..."
That caught Adelheid off guard. "'Books'? You can read?"
"Yep! Though, only a bit. I can read cookbooks just fine, though!"
While it may not sound like a big deal to Nikola, to Adelheid- who was just starting to learn to read herself before she was sent to her grandfather's place- it was still an amazing feat.
"Whoa... If you can read cookbooks, then are you planning to become a cook?" Adelheid asked then.
"I sure am! I want to be a great chef like daddy and great-grandpa and take over Nekoya!" Nikola exclaimed.
She did not know what 'Nekoya' was, but from how Nikola was proclaiming her ambition, Adelheid could tell that it was something great, especially if her father and great-grandfather are involved in her ambition.
"Nikola! Can you come into the kitchen for a moment?" came Makoto's voice.
"Okay!" Nikola replied. To Adelheid, she then said, "I'll be right back. Leon-kun can keep you company."
"'Leon-kun'?" Before the princess could ask who she mean, the restaurant heiress already made her way to the kitchen.
As she left, Adelheid turned to the lion plushie on the table. 'Does she mean this?' she wondered, taking it in her hands. 'Is this... a cat? I've never seen a cat like this before. It even has a... A knife? In its mouth. She said its name is 'Leon-kun'? It's so cute. And so soft.'
"Sorry for the wait!" came Nikola's voice then.
Adelheid looked up and saw the girl returning, carefully carrying a tray with two glasses on top of it, both filled with white and brown stuff, as well as some berries. Seeing how the glasses were wobbling like so worried the princess, as she set the plushie back on the table, got down from her seat, and rushed over to the heiress.
"I'll help you out!" she exclaimed.
"It's fine. I got it," Nikola assured her. "You're a customer here. I can't ask you to help out."
"But..."
Wilhelm let out a small laugh, grabbing his granddaughter's attention. "It's fine, Adelheid. This is not the first time Nikola has been helping out around the place."
"Are you sure, grandfather?" Adelheid asked, still worried for the other child.
"Of course. Just look."
The princess turned to Nikola at the elder man's words and saw the child carefully managing to place both glasses on the table. "Yes! Adel-chan! You can come back, now!"
Upon witnessing how responsible and capable Nikola was for a girl of seemingly the same age as her, Adelheid grew even more amazed with this child, as she returned to their table.
"You'll love this! It's called chocolate parfait!" Nikola exclaimed, also taking her seat.
"Choco-...?" Adelheid glanced back at the treat set before her. Upon getting a good look at it, she could not deny how tasty it seemed.
"Thank you for the food!" The princess looked up at Nikola when she heard those words escape her lips, noticing the girl clapped her hands together before digging into her treat. "Mmm~! So good~!"
Watching her enjoy the food in front of her piqued Adelheid's interest and appetite, as she picked up a spoon set by the glass and took a scoop of the white stuff at the top. Once she scooped up the contents, she brought it to her mouth... and was amazed at the texture and taste of it.
"Oh wow! It's so soft and fluffy! And sweet!" Adelheid exclaimed.
"It's good, right?" Nikola proudly said.
"What is this stuff?"
"That's cre- It's cr-... Ah, right! It's clouds!"
"Clouds?! You eat clouds here?! Amazing!"
Nikola let out a small laugh at the compliment. "Not as amazing as my dad being able to make it. But someday, I will, too! And when I do, I will definitely let you try it!"
"Really?! I look forward to it!" Adelheid exclaimed.
As they continued to chat, all the adults watching them had quite the calm smiles on their faces, feeling their heart and soul soothe from the scene before them.
"Those two... are so precious~" Tomoe stated, delivering Wilhelm his usual order of croquettes, and tempted to pull out her phone to record the interaction.
"Indeed," Wilhelm agreed. "You may have told Nikola to play with Adelheid to keep her company, but seeing them converse like this... I can tell they'll be great friends already."
"If they haven't already," Makoto added. "Still, this is nice to see. Our girl may have made connections with all our customers in this restaurant- especially the regulars, specifically that of your world- but she hasn't really made a friend here yet. It would be nice if she could make even one friend her age, be it from this side or yours."
"Yeah... That would be lovely," Tomoe agreed.
"I feel the same. As you may know, for someone of my status, having someone see me as an equal is quite rare. Unfortunately, such a rarity extends to my family. As such, even if she were around children her age, to say that Adelheid will find a friend amongst them is... only ideal. Thus why here, in a place where status and ranks matter very little in this world, you don't know how happy I am to see Adelheid making her first, real friend."
No one could argue with that. While they were not residents of the other world, they were aware of what Wilhelm's status may be in that world of fantasy, judging by his clothes. Surely, it could not be easy for someone like him to fully relax over there, nor would it be easy for several of their other customers from that world.
Soon enough, both customers were done with their meal. Sadly, as Wilhelm had business to attend to later that day, he had to return home. And if he had to go back, so did Adelheid.
"Do you really have to go?" Nikola asked, already starting to miss her new friend.
"Yeah. Grandfather has things to attend to, and if I'm not back with him, it will worry our maids," Adelheid reasoned with a sad smile. While she also did not want to leave just yet, the princess did not want to trouble her grandfather with her selfishness.
Likewise, Nikola also knew how busy Adelheid must be in that other world, especially for a princess. And going by the conversation they were having, even though there were a lot of things Nikola did not fully understand, she did know enough to see that Adelheid- even if she was a child- must have things to attend to herself.
Looking down at Leon in her arms, an idea came to her head as the pair of royals were about to make their way to the door. "Adel-chan!"
At her call, the pair stopped in their tracks and turned back to the heiress, who rushed to the younger of the pair. "What is it?"
"Here. For you," Nikola said, holding out Leon to Adelheid, much to her surprise.
"Huh? But that's your toy..."
"I know. And he's been keeping me company for so long. But I'll still have the company of my family, our regulars, and even the neighbors here! But... Adel-chan, you said you don't have anyone to play with in your world. Not even your maid... So, I'll give you Leon-kun! He can keep you company when you feel lonely, and he can also protect you from nightmares! Katsudon-san said so himself! So I'll give Leon-kun to you!"
Adelheid was touched by this. Not only did she make a new friend, but she was also being given something of great importance by that very friend. A bright smile spread on her face, as she took the plushie in her arms. "I'll take care of him and definitely bring him back!" she swore.
"Okay! I look forward to your next visit!"
With that, Adelheid left the restaurant with her grandfather and Leon. Nikola, once again, already was starting to miss her first friend, as well as her toy, but did not cry. For after all, the princess was Wilhelm's granddaughter, and a new customer of Nekoya. And Nekoya's customers from that other world usually come back soon; there was no need for her to shed tears.
Neither of the children knew, though... Not seven days after that visit, Adelheid was to be returned to her father, after the man had managed to win some big battle. Neither of them thought of the possibility that Leon would be given to Adelheid's younger brother, who was later born into the world and took a liking to the toy. Adelheid was conflicted between giving up the toy or not, as it did not really belonged to her, but to Nikola. However, in the end, she gave her sibling the plush, and hoped Nikola would understand the decision she had to make.
As time gradually passed, while one side still remembers the meeting, the other was slowly forgetting much of it- only retaining vague details of that day. In time however... the pair eventually meet again.